Eagles Notes: Eagles place Peters, Patterson on reserve lists

By Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: August 29, 2012

Jason Peters was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list Monday and remains eligible to return to practice with the Eagles any time between the sixth and ninth weeks of the regular season, the team announced.

The same timetable holds for defensive tackle Mike Patterson, who was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list.

The Eagles made the moves as they trimmed their roster to 75 players. The team placed guard Mike Gibson on the injured reserve list with a hip flexor injury that was deemed "minor." As a vested veteran, Gibson could not be waived. He could play for another team this season if healthy.

The Eagles also released wide receiver Jamel Hamler. They have until Friday at 9 p.m. to reduce the roster to 53 players - the league-mandated number for the regular season.

While Peters is not expected to play this season, the Eagles were not forced to place him on injured reserve because his injury did not occur while playing football. The all-pro tackle ruptured his Achilles tendon in March when he was working out in Texas. The following month he reinjured the tendon when the crutch scooter he was riding broke down.

The Eagles signed Demetress Bell to replace Peters, but the free-agent acquisition was demoted after the first preseason game. King Dunlap will open the season as the starting left tackle.

Patterson had brain surgery in January to remove an arteriovenous malformation. The Eagles originally said he would be ready by camp, but on the first day coach Andy Reid said that the team's longest-tenured player would be out for most of the preseason.

Reid said Sunday, however, that Patterson could be out for the entire season. Patterson said he was scheduled to meet with his neurological doctor within a week.

Fighting for a spot

A few roster battles are still to be played out, and a few could be decided when the Eagles host the New York Jets in the preseason finale Thursday night.

There are competitions at almost every position, but a few of the less-discussed ones may have the most intrigue.

The Eagles typically carry nine offensive linemen, but they may need to carry only eight if they choose an interior lineman who can effectively play both guard and center. Steve Vallos, who has eight career NFL starts, has made some recent headway against Julian Vandervelde and Dallas Reynolds.

"It was hard at first being with the third group for all of training camp," Vallos said. "And then I sort of got moved to second-team center right before the New England game. They sort of shuffled us around. Both of these guys can play center."

Vallos has the most experience at center, though. Vandervelde was a fifth-round draft pick in 2011 and Reynolds has spent the last two seasons on the practice squad.

At running back, rookie Bryce Brown appears to have the edge over fellow rookie Chris Polk. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg recently said that Polk could be a lead blocker, which would perhaps be a way for him to make the team if the Eagles forgo a traditional fullback.

But all signs seem to point to fullback Stanley Havili's making the 53-man roster.

Extra points

Nate Allen did not practice Monday. The safety tweaked his hamstring during Flight Night Sunday. Allen, who missed the first preseason game because of a hamstring strain, said the injury was minor. . . . Defensive coordinator Juan Castillo had high praise for Akeem Jordan, who supplanted Brian Rolle as the starting weakside linebacker on Sunday. "Akeem Jordan has probably had one of the better training camps since I've been around," Castillo said. . . . Tim Tebow, the Jets' No. 2 quarterback, will not play against the Eagles. Greg McElroy and Matt Simms will be the Jets quarterbacks.